BY KORI MACKALL, Director of Communications, The Piedmont School & John Yowell Academy

With the holidays fast approaching, many parents are probably hearing the pleas, bargaining, and downright begging of their children for the latest in cell phones, tablets, or other devices. A common concern I hear among parents in this technology-driven era is how to keep track of their child’s online footprint or presence. We are living in unique times with the social media boom, much of which can have a dark shadow over it. When nearly 90% of today’s teens report witnessing cyberbullying, and with an increase in the pre-teen and teenage suicide rate, and often a generational disconnect in social media use, it is a legitimate concern for today’s parents and grandparents to be fearful of their child’s social media usage and even where to begin monitoring it.

Here are some useful tips for beginning to monitor your child’s social media interactions.

Get educated.

Perhaps one of the most common things I hear from parents is, “I don’t know anything about Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Kik, Musicaly, GroupMe, or Instagram.” Well, it’s time to learn. Just because you don’t use these apps or social media outlets, doesn’t mean you can’t become educated in them. If your kid is using them, I recommend creating an account yourself. A great place to start learning about apps, websites, and overall statistics and information are resource websites like commonsensemedia.org or teensafe.org. YouTube also has several video series on different apps, how they are used, dangers to look out for, and tips/tricks for parents. Consider apps like Mama Bear or Bark, where you can pay a monthly or annual fee to link your child’s social media apps and Internet history to your phone. You can receive alerts to warn you of inappropriate activity, cyberbullying, or any other potential issues. You can also receive alerts from these apps if your child disables them on their phone.

Be honest and set expectations.

Have a sit-down conversation with your child about your expectations for their mobile device use and your policy on social media use. Stand firm with your expectations and remember that somehow we all survived a time without mobile devices, and if need be, they can, too (don’t be afraid to take the devices away). It is absolutely not out of the question to require that your child turn in his/her cell phone at night, in fact, it is highly recommended. It is not out of the question to require one of the above-mentioned monitoring apps stay on their device. Create a “device contract” with your expectations and rules in writing and have your child sign it. These are rules to be followed in order to keep the device—if any of the rules are broken, the device goes away.

Explain and model appropriate social media behavior.

So often we tell our children what not to do on social media—“Don’t be a cyberbully,” “Don’t post inappropriate pictures,” “Don’t add people you don’t know as friends.” So often we forget to show them what is appropriate social media behavior. Work with your child to learn what an appropriate post is. Have open conversations about what is worth sharing and what is not. This can help explain and express the permanence of what they share online.

Find someone “cooler” than you to be a mentor.

Now, of course, we as parents, even Millennial parents, like to consider ourselves pretty cool. We like to think we are approachable enough for our kids to openly talk to and share all the new fads and trends with. But, come on, we remember what it was like to be teenagers…the time where our parents knew nothing. Consider enlisting the help of someone your child may deem “cool” to help be your eyes and ears on your child’s social media accounts. Consider an older cousin or sibling, a church member, a neighbor, someone who is in the young adult age bracket (18–24 preferably) who can friend your child on Facebook, Snapchat, Kik, Musicaly, Instagram, GroupMe etc., and can secretly alert you if they see anything inappropriate or questionable on your child’s account (be it from your child or about potential cyberbully situations).

The truth of the matter is, it is hard to keep up with the latest and “coolest” trends in the social media atmosphere. As a parent, you may think your child won’t get caught up in social media drama or can navigate it on their own if you just talk to them about it, but the reality is, most adolescents need direct involvement from their parents to help ensure their social media and web-based interactions stay appropriate and safe. Social media doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, so prepare yourself to be hands-on in socializing your child to social media.

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Content for this article has been contributed by an outside party or advertiser. Inclusion in Forsyth Woman and/or Forsyth Family Magazines does not imply endorsement of products or people. The views of the authors are presented for information and entertainment only, and may not necessarily reflect the views of Forsyth Woman and/or Forsyth Family.

Cover Stories

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2015 and editorial and public relations coordinator since 2017. Born in Texas, Megan was brought to North Carolina when she was only two months old. A recent graduate from Salem College, Megan has a degree in communication with a minor in history. She has a toy poodle named Gidget and, in her spare time, she loves cooking, music, reading and travel. Megan has also spent time in film, having appeared in two movies – an independent production and as an extra in studio film. “I love listening to an interviewee’s story and then sharing it with the community. Everyone has a story to tell, and I’m glad I can be a part of it,” said Megan.

Carolyn Peterson

Senior Writer

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2006. Originally from Pfafftown, Carolyn now calls Clemmons home. Carolyn was a model for 20 years, and for five years, she was a hand model for Bojangles’ print and television advertising. She has a degree in journalism and psychology. Carolyn’s day job is as a pharmaceutical sales representative and, in her free time, she enjoys cooking, the arts and traveling. “I love learning about the businesses and people in my community who are making a difference in big and small ways, many of whom I am blessed to write about in my articles,” said Carolyn. Carolyn is also the magazines’ resident go-to writer when it comes to anything with animals. She has three dogs and loves all wildlife.

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2008.Denise hails from Gastonia, but grew up in Kernersville. With two brief stints living in other states (Texas and Ohio), Forsyth County kept calling her home, where she plans to stay. Denise has a grown son, Charlie, and shares her home with husband, Wayne, a local drummer. Denise loves her coffee and also loves animals, especially cats. In her spare time, Denise is an active volunteer for Proverbs 31 Ministries and serves in several capacities. Denise also writes a faith-based blog, MyGraceFullLife.com. On writing for Forsyth Magazines, Denise said, “I am so blessed to be a part of this incredible team, to meet these wonderful local business owners and to interact with our super-supportive readers!”

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2009. Meghan Corbett grew up in Winston-Salem. She graduated with honors with a degree in mass media communication and a minor in journalism from NC State University. She married her high school sweetheart, Will, in 2008. Meghan and Will, along with rescue dogs Moze and Charlie, welcomed a baby girl to their family in 2016. Meghan loves to shop, read and take vacations. In fact, she’s been to Disney World 13 times and never gets tired of it! Meghan writes for all four titles in the Forsyth Magazines family and serves as backup editor. When asked what she loves about her job, Meghan said, “The people I get to work with! It is an amazing job where you feel supported throughout every aspect of your life.”

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2017. Debbie Barr earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree in health education and promotion from East Carolina University. She is a master certified health education specialist (MCHES) with interests in work site health promotion, Alzheimer’s and dementia education, health literacy, and Christian growth. A versatile writer and enthusiastic speaker, Debbie is the author/co-author of four books, more than 600 disease-specific patient education articles, low-literacy employee benefits materials, medical education scripts, and newsletters for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers.

Elisa Wallace

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2010. A Winston-Salem native, Elisa now calls Charlotte home where she works as a middle school English teacher. Elisa has two degrees – communication studies and Spanish as well as a master’s in writing. She lives with her dog, Bella, who is a Lhasa Apso and enjoys antiques, arts, music, reading, traveling and baking (though she says she cannot cook). “I love working with such a talented and ambitious team,” said Elisa. “I like the flexibility I receive when pitching new story ideas.”

Keith grew up in southern Virginia before moving to Winston-Salem with his wife, Cindy. He has a master’s degree in business administration from High Point University. Keith and Cindy have two children as well as their pet Maltese. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, reading, spending time with his family and travel. He’s also an ultimate sports fan and enjoys attending live events from college to pro. He writes “The View from My Section: A Father’s Perspective” column each month sharing his insights on parenting. When it comes to Forsyth Magazines, he said, “I enjoy working with people who genuinely care about providing a quality magazine that unites the community and celebrates family life in this area. It’s easy to stay excited in an environment that recognizes and appreciates the contributions you make every day.”

Debbie Linville

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2016. Debbie Linville lives in Winston-Salem, and this native Floridian is married to Mark. Together, they have two grown children. While both kids are married, Debbie is content with furry grandchildren (at least for now). Debbie has a Ph.D. in Literacy Education. Her natural love for reading has motivated her to write her own two children’s books as well, enabling her to cross off a goal on her bucket list! “I love the opportunity to meet others in the community,” said Debbie. “This is a great platform to share my passion and expertise with readers!”

Kristi J. Marion

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2010. Kristi Johnson Marion hails from Mount Airy, NC and has called Winston-Salem home for 20 years. She’s received Smitty’s Notes Best of Winston-Salem “Mover & Shaker/Local Scenester” Award. She loves the variety of friendly locals she gets to know through sharing their stories here at Forsyth Magazines. Kristi also enjoys spending time with her kids, the arts, reading, cooking and the martial art of Krav Maga.

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2012. Lisa is originally from Maryland and, after living in New York, Colorado and Texas, she’s proud to finally call North Carolina home. Lisa shares a home with her husband of 10 years, Kevin. Together, they have daughter, Sayre and their angel-son, Finn who lived two years. Their family also includes two dogs. Lisa has a degree in education and, as such, writes many educational articles for the magazines. Lisa enjoys traveling, is an avid reader and gardener and has done extensive work on her family’s genealogy. When it comes to writing for Forsyth Magazines, Lisa said, “I love writing spring themes in winter, back to school articles in the heat of summer, and, best of all, starting to anticipate the Christmas season in October.”

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2012. Originally from High Point, Martie now calls Greensboro home. She has a degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a Carolina girl in every sense of the word – she loves Carolina basketball! Martie works for Randy McManus Designs and has two grown sons, Beau and Matthew, who are the light of her life. She has a dog (Lucky) and cat (Dusty) and loves to travel, read and listen to music. “I love the camaraderie of the women involved and the women we reach,” said Martie. “This is a great outlet to promote the success of small businesses.”

Forsyth Magazines Writer since 2016. Savannah Norris is from Fayetteville, NC though she now calls Clemmons home. She joined the Forsyth Magazines team in the fall of 2016 as a student intern. Though her internship ended in December, Savannah was invited to continue as a contributing writer. She will graduate from high school in 2017 with plans to attend college in the fall. Savannah has a Jack Russell mix named Sophie and in her spare time, loves to sing, play guitar, and surf.

Mallory Harmon

Forsyth Magazines Intern and Writer since 2016. Mallory Harmon is originally from Rock Hill, SC and once spent a full year on a family RV road trip, when they visited all 48 states in the continental US! Mallory is home-schooled and will be graduating in 2017. After graduation, she will follow in her two older sister’s footsteps and attend Covenant College in Georgia. Mallory will major in journalism. She is the author of two columns in Forsyth Magazines — FORsyth Teens by Teens in Forsyth Family and A Day in the Life of… in Forsyth Woman. In her spare time, Mallory enjoys reading, writing, acting, and watercolor painting.

Sara Wiles

Forsyth Magazines Writer since 2017. Sara Wiles has called Winston-Salem home for most of her life. She has a bachelor degree in communication from East Carolina University, with a minor in geological studies. Sara is married to Evan and in her spare time, she enjoys cooking, arts and crafts, dancing, gardening, music, and travel. Sara is also a blogger. Her page is SaraFromScratch.wordpress.com and on it, she eplores fun, DIY recipes for healthy eating and meal prep!

Stacy Leighton

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2014. Stacy was born in California but spent her life living all over the world! She even went to school in Hong Kong. With a bachelor’s degree in education, Stacy is one of our educational experts, sharing her years of experience in early childhood, elementary and adult education, and family matters with our readers. Stacy has been married to Steve Leighton for 28 years and, together, they have a daughter and son (Samantha and Tucker). Their family shares their home with a Weimaraner and cat. Stacy enjoys all things DIY, including home and furniture restoration, as well as practicing yoga, reading, writing and illustrating. Noted for her delightful wit with engaging content, Stacy is a definite reader favorite.

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2011. Originally from Washington, DC, Susan now calls Winston-Salem home. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in journalism and spent a term at Christ Church College, Oxford University. Susan and her husband, JC, have three daughters, Erin, Britton, and Meghan (who is Forsyth Magazines’ senior staff writer.) She loves working with her daughter, Meghan, as well as the Forsyth Magazines’ staff. Susan relishes her role of grandmother and caring for her two rescue pups – Duncan and Matilda. She loves to travel and on a recent trip visited China and climbed the Great Wall. “It is a privilege to work on these wonderful publications and to write such a variety of articles,” said Susan.

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2017. Originally from New York, Taryn grew up in Florida and moved to Winston-Salem in 2014 and has loved the city ever since. Taryn is a lifelong DIYer, creative business coach & public speaker with a heart centered on serving women who have a vision for their business and their life. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design & Marketing and is the founder of One Crafty Miss, LLC a brand that brings motivation, encouragement and community to creative women building handmade businesses. When she isn’t at home on a weekend watching Netflix with her husband, Leo, and fur babies, Luna and Izzy, you can find her rummaging through thrift shops or going to craft fairs and flea markets. Taryn’s favorite thing about writing for the magazine is being able to connect with so many amazing people in the community and create pieces that resonate with its readers.

Vonda Henderson

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2012. Vonda was born in Greensburg, KY. With a father who worked for the railroad, she grew up in several areas including various parts of Tennessee and Alabama. Eventually, Vonda relocated to North Carolina and has called Winston-Salem home for almost 40 years. Vonda has a degree in English and media communications and recently retired from HanesBrands after 37 years. She joined the Forsyth Magazines team a few years ago at the encouragement of her daughter, Denise, who serves as project manager. She enjoys traveling, knitting, cooking and reading (most of all, reading about military history). “I love the variety of articles (including human interest, historical, informational, local businesses, service organizations and humor),” said Vonda.

Graphic designer since 2016. Aron Daniels is originally from Charlotte, NC and currently lives in Greenville with his wife Amy and their two adorable boys, Elijah and Malcolm. Aron earned his degree in graphic design from Western Carolina University. Aron enjoys reading, photography, drawing, computer games, and camping. On working for Forsyth Magazines, Aron shares, “I love the variety about my job. We have a great team in place and with the diversity of each design project, I stay moving and creative all the time!”

Laurie Dalton

Graphic Artist

Graphic designer since 2016. Laurie Dalton calls Lewisville home! She shares her home with her husband, Jeff. She is 2/3rds of the way to an empty nest, with one grown son, one son currently at Appalachian State, and the third still in high school. Laurie graduated from UNC-Wilmington and has brought a fun, open and airy design style to Forsyth Family magazine! In her spare time, Laurie enjoys spending time with her boys, kayaking, and training her new puppy, Sierra.

Timothy Sellner

Content Editor

Forsyth Family editor since 2009. Forsyth Family Editor, Tim Sellner, was born and raised in Detroit, MI before ultimately relocating to Winston-Salem. Tim has a Ph.D. and is a retired professor of German studies at Wake Forest University. He and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 47 years, and they have three grown children as well as a Siamese cat. Tim enjoys collecting art and antiques, and spending time researching family genealogy. His research has helped him realize that two of his grandchildren are descendants of the Massachusetts Pilgrims and Native American heroine, Pocahontas. On editing for Forsyth Family, Tim said, “The people are wonderful to work with, and it keeps my mind active. I also think the magazines provide a great service to the county.”

Kim Beane

Content Editor

Forsyth Woman content editor since 2005. Born in the heart of country music, Kim Beane hails from Nashville, TN, though she now calls East Bend, NC home. Kim has a law degree from Wake Forest University and is an original member of the Forsyth Magazines team. Kim and her husband, Jody, have been married since 2002, and have two dogs and three horses. One of her horses, Raven, was once a popular featured columnist in Forsyth Woman and Forsyth Family magazines. Kim loves her role as content editor and, in her words, “being a part of something that touches the community.”

Alexis was born in the Philippines on the Subic Bay US Naval Base and grew up in Connecticut. She attended Brigham Young University in Utah where she earned a degree in communications. She and her husband, Scott, have been married for 16 years, and they eventually settled in Winston-Salem. As a busy mom of four children, Alexis also enjoys playing tennis, shopping and serving in her church and community. She also loves to travel and read. In regards to working for Forsyth Magazines, Alexis said, “I love the chance to work with local companies and help them tell their stories. I also love the flexibility and the unique opportunity this job gives me to be home with my children during these precious years. It’s truly a dream job! And the women I work with are unbelievably supportive. So blessed!”

Heather Spivey

Account Executive

Forsyth Magazines account executive since 2009. A Winston-Salem native, Heather graduated from Salem College with a double major in English and communications and took graduate classes at the UNC-CH School of Journalism. She has the dual role at Forsyth Magazines of both account executive and writer of the popular Forsyth Family column, “Out and About in Winston-Salem.” She has been married to her husband, Ron, for 10 years, and they have an eight-year-old son, Jackson. In her spare time, Heather enjoys reading, photography and travel. “I love working with our team, and the flexibility it gives me — it allows me to spend quality time with my family.”

Forsyth Magazines account executive since 2016. Morgan Bralley grew up with Forsyth Magazines… after all, her mother is Forsyth Family publisher, Robin Bralley! After graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in recreational therapy, Morgan moved home. Morgan is making plans to return to school to study occupational therapy as a complement to her first degree. However, for now, she is enjoying the opportunity to work with her mom for a bit. Morgan is also passionate about volunteerism and mission work. She is preparing for her second mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2017, which is being funded through a side-business she shares with her sister, Sister Act Pallet Signs. In her spare time, Morgan loves spending time with family, especially when they travel to Treasure Island, Florida!

Tamara Bodford

Account Executive

Forsyth Magazines account executive since 2012. Tamara Bodford is originally from Hudson, NC and now divides her time between Lewisville and Lake Norman. She and her husband, Paul, have been married for 23 years and their children, Zack and Katie, are both students at NC State University. They have a Bichon named Chuck. Tamara has a degree in psychology from UNC-Charlotte and enjoys reading, travel and loves to watch football. Tamara sells advertising for all four titles under the Forsyth Magazines umbrella and said, “I love interacting with the best clients, publishers and co-workers I could ever imagine!”

Robin Bralley

Publisher (Forsyth Family)

Forsyth Family publisher since 2007.Robin grew up in Clemmons and has called it home all her life. She has a degree from High Point University and, after finding herself downsized from her marketing position in corporate America, Robin joined forces with Forsyth Woman publisher and friend, Keela Johnson to launch Forsyth Family. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 27 years and share two grown daughters, Briana and Morgan, as well as a new son-in-law, Briana’s husband, Jonathan! Robin and her family are avid Carolina Panthers fans and enjoy going to the movies and summer concerts. She is also an active member of Sunrise United Methodist Church and volunteers for bimonthly bread pick-up to support the Clemmons Food Pantry. Regarding her favorite thing about Forsyth Magazines, Robin said, “It’s hard to narrow it down to one specific thing, but meeting all the wonderful people I come in contact with and being a small part of local businesses’ success is top of the list!”

Keela Johnson — the one who started it all. Keela is originally from Winston-Salem and has lived in Clemmons for the last 30 years. She and husband, Tim (the recently retired owner of TJ’s Body Shop), have been married since 1984 and, together, they have two grown children, Brooke Eagle (who is a part of the Forsyth Magazines team and Keela’s right arm) and Tanner who is in college at UNC-Wilmington. After being downsized from her position at L’eggs, Keela found her entrepreneurial spirit and, without any publishing experience or background, she began Forsyth Woman. Two years later, she launched Forsyth Family with friend and business partner, Robin Bralley. In 2011, she launched Forsyth Woman Engaged! and, in 2015, Forsyth Community. While the magazines are her true passion, Keela enjoys spending time at Lake Norman with her family and friends, a good glass of wine and the Carolina Panthers!